2 NaCl + F₂ → 2 NaF + Cl₂
Here's how to balance the equation:
1. Identify the reactants and products:
* Reactants: NaCl and F₂
* Products: NaF and Cl₂
2. Count the atoms of each element on both sides of the equation:
* Left side (reactants): 2 Na, 2 Cl, 2 F
* Right side (products): 1 Na, 1 Cl, 2 F
3. Adjust the coefficients in front of each molecule to balance the number of atoms:
* Multiply NaCl by 2: This gives us 2 Na and 2 Cl on the left side.
* The equation is now balanced: 2 Na, 2 Cl, and 2 F on both sides.
Therefore, the balanced equation is 2 NaCl + F₂ → 2 NaF + Cl₂.